4th MRPMMAL Family Reunion_13.12.08

We attended the fourth family gathering of the Muthu Ramalingam Pillay and Marimuthu Ammal Lineage on Saturday 13th December 2008 at the Arulmigu Sri Subramaniar Temple Hall Gunong Cheroh, Ipoh. Chitra, my wife, is the fifth generation of the family. I helped produce the next 6th generation i.e. Ramaraj and Krishnapriya, our children. The first gathering which was also held in Ipoh in year 2000 gained entry into the Malaysian Book of Records as the largest family gathering. The second and third gatherings were held in Taiping in 2002 and in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 respectively.

For the record, Muthu-Ramalingam Pillay and his wife Marimuthu Ammal first arrived in Malaya from Karaikal (Pondicherry), India in the late 19th century. Marimuthu Ammal, who settled in Taiping, went on to establish herself as an enterprising rail and road contractor who amassed a fortune.
Marimuthu Ammal

The 4th family gathering started with registration and breakfast from 7.30 a.m. to 9.00 a.m.
Arriving at Temple Hall

Everyone went over to the temple for prayers at 9.00 a.m.
Organising Chairman Mr. K.Krishnamoorthy and wife being blessed.

Chitra, Rama and Nithia Ruby praying

Walking back from the temple

Rama and his cousins at the Hall

The function commenced in the Hall with a group of girls singing the bhajans songs. Our distinguished family members YBhg. Dato’ S. Veerasingam and Datin Usha were the guests of honour officiating the opening ceremony.
Singing of Bhajan songs

YBhg Datin Usha lighting the oil lamp

After the usual speeches by the distinguished speakers, the presentation of souvenirs to donors for the function was carried out. The presentation was followed by a forum for discussion of family gathering related issues. It was also decided that the next family gathering would be held in Penang in year 2010. There was also a separate games sessions for the children. A delicious vegetarian lunch, catered by Vav Catering Sdn. Bhd. was served.

Opening speech by YBhg. Dato' S. Veerasingam

Raj & Chitra receiving souvenir from YBhg Datuk Seri N. S. Selvamany

The gathering cultimated with a Family Banquet and Entertainment at the Royal Ipoh Club, Ipoh started at 7.30 p.m. The food was delicious Malysianised 8-course dinner which included four seasons dish, mutton and bread, satay, sambal fish, vegetables, chicken curry and spicy rice etc. catered by Vav Catering Sdn. Bhd. who had served all the meals for the day. Entertainment included Karnatic songs, dances and impersonation of M.G.R.
Rama & Priya with cousins

Raj & brothers-in-law

Chitra & Family

Karnatic Singers

Peacock Dancers

”M.G.R.” & YBhg Datuk Seri N. S. Selvamany, our oldest family member

Family Photo

”Bandham” Logo and theme for 4th Gathering

The party ended at midnight. Everyone went back happy meeting up with the relatives and with renewed interest to keep in touch until the next gathering in Penang in 2010.

For more information and photos, refer to family website:

http://bandham.weebly.com/index.html

Tokai World Youth Scrabble Championship 2008_09.12.08

Ramaraj along with another eleven youths represented Malaysia in the Tokai 3rd World Youth Scrabble Championship which was held in City Bayview Hotel, Penang from 9th to 11th December 2008. There were 58 participants from eleven countries taking part in this tournament.

WYSC Participants

Raj & Rama

Nine games each were scheduled to be played in the first two days while another four games in the third day totaling to twenty two games. In the third day, a final playoff between the top two finishers would decide the WYSC Champion.

Rama and Andrew wearing SJCYFL sponsored T- shirt

Mrs. Karen Richards, Organising Chairman and Prof Wilma Vialle, Tournament Director.

2008 WYSC Participants

Rama Vs Phillip Hamilton

Rama Vs Kum Zi Peng

Parents waiting patiently

Rama Vs Scott Chung

While Rama was busy playing scrabble, Chitra and Priya were part of the team of annotators recording the games played by the top players to be uploaded in the website. I was busy taking the photos as the official photographer for the tournament.

Priya & Chitra annotating games between Khoo Beng Way and Samitha Amarasinghe

After the first day of tournament we were invited to the Official Reception Dinner at the same hotel, sponsored by the Island College of Technology, Penang. We were treated with a sumptuous eight course dinner.

Andrew, Rama, Raj & Priya.

Priya, Grandmom, Anita & Chitra

Chung & Khoo Family

WYSC Malaysian Players

When the dust settled after three hectic days of intense scrabble competition, Charnrit Khongthanarat from Thailand emerged WYSC Champion defeating Khoo Beng Way from Malaysia by 3 games to 1 in the final playoff.

Ramaraj achieved 4th position which was an tremendous improvement from his twenty- sixth finish in last year’s tournament. He won a trophy and prize money of RM 1,000. Rama also managed to win a trophy for the Highest Game award with a score of 655.

Scorecard for Ramaraj Sundraraj (Malaysia)
In round1 beat Kum Zi Peng 413:398. Position 24th with 1 +15
In round 2 beat Phillip Hamilton 478:352. Position 12th with 2 +141
In round 3 beat Albert Martono 655:189. Position 2nd with 3 +607
In round 4 beat Lahiru Elvitigala 420:298. Position 1st with 4 +729
In round 5 lost to Akaradech 372:444. Position 4th with 4 +657
In round 6 lost to Scott Chung 362:376. Position 9th with 4 +643
In round 7 beat Louie De Guzman 543:437. Position 5th with 5 +749
In round 8 lost to Ong Suanne 362:404. Position 11th with 5 +707
In round 9 lost to Alvin Lau 376:560. Position 17th with 5 +523
In round 10 beat Samitha 448:351. Position 11th with 6 +620
In round 11 beat Sean Chung 518:309. Position 8th with 7 +829
In round 12 lost to Alastair Richards 377:409. Position 14th with 7 +797
In round 13 beat Wong Zhi Yuan 517:252. Position 9th with 8 +1062
In round 14 lost to Samitha 346:494. Position 15th with 8 +914
In round 15 beat Mohsin Ahmed 420:327. Position 13th with 9 +1007
In round 16 lost to Alastair Richards 363:380. Position 16th with 9 +990
In round 17 lost to Akaradech 421:441. Position 20th with 9 +970
In round 18 beat Sunai Nitungkorn 417:385. Position 16th with 10 +1002
In round 19 beat Chang Ching Wei 546:277. Position 11th with 11 +1271
In round 20 beat William Kang 325:285. Position 7th with 12 +1311
In round 21 beat Ong Suanne 413:311. Position 4th with 13 +1413
In round 22 beat Scott Chung 460:436. Position 4th with 14 +1437

We are proud that four Malaysian players finished in the top five positions for this world scrabble tournament.

Rama receiving award from Major Cheah

Rama's Awards

Top 3 Winners

Team Malaysia

The list of results for the top 10 winners as follows:

Final Playoff

- Khoo Beng Way (Mal) 19 1882
- Charnrit Khongthanarat (Thai) 17 501
(Champion Charnrit winning by 3 games to 1)


Rank Player Wins Margin
3. Scott Chung (Mal) 15 683
4. Ramaraj Sundraraj (Mal) 14 1437
5. Ong Suanne (Mal) 14 1178
6. Mohsin Ahmed (Ind) 14 665
7. Wanchana Jirapitikul (Thai) 14 177
8. Samitha Amarasinghe (SriLanka) 13 786
9. Alastair Richards (Aus) 13 660
10. Akaradech Suppapittatorn (Thai) 13 602
High Game: Ramaraj 655
High Word: Wong Zhi Yuan 257 "ZANJEROS"

The organisation of the Tournament led by Mrs. Karen Richards, Prof Wilma (Tournament Director), Barry Harridge and Karl Chin Hon Yew (IT) together with a band of volunteers, was spot on and everyone involved especially the players and parents had a memorable experience.

For more info, results, games and photos etc, please refer to Tokai 2008 WYSC website : http://www.youthscrabble.org/wysc2008/